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31.7.10

A couple years ago I went for a walk on the beach with a friend of mine. She was letting her dog run in and out of the waves, I was wading in the water, cooling off. I guess I wasn't watching where I was going because I waded right in to a weird muddy spot. Three steps in I was stuck. Not just ha ha this is funny stuck--but really stuck. It was creepy! Who knew it was possible to actually get stuck in mud? Not me. After about fifteen minutes of wiggling we did get me out. The sensation of being stuck stayed with me and soon became the spark that gave life to BRIGAND LOVE, my new free read. When you read it, it'll be easy to spot the scene.

Here's a bit about the story:

Restless and unsatisfied with her life, Lacey is looking for answers. But the recurring dream that haunts her sleep delivers only more questions.

When the fierce brigand of her nights seeks her out, Lacey’s tormenting dreams become reality and her past becomes her present.

29.7.10

I remember the old saying, "two's company, but three's a crowd" but when it comes to erotic romance, three is anything, but a crowd. As it turns out, three is just what the doctor ordered for the lovers in the upcoming Threefold Anthology, a collection I'm lucky enough to be part of. And what company I'm with...

Kim Dare

Suzanne Graham

Desiree Holt,

Byrnn Paulin, and

Charlotte Stein.

Wow, I'm starting to get jittery just typing out their names. But I couldn't be happier to be sharing in this fantastic collection. And finding out all the ways, three is the perfect number.

My story, Keeping Faith, is about a feisty helicopter pilot, Faith, and her journey from girlfriend, to centrepiece. But when you've got two hunks like Donovan and Parker, who doesn't want to be caught in the middle. Here's the blurb and a brief peek at what's inside...

Blurb:

Faith is about to discover why three is a prime number...

As a helicopter pilot, Faith Anderson is pretty open-minded. But when she finds her lover’s best friend in his bed, naked, she assumes the worst and leaves, not realising she’s just walked out on years of planning.

Donovan can’t believe his ultimate seduction has just gone up in flames, not after finally finding a woman he and his friend, Parker, know is the other piece to their puzzle. They’ve spent years watching her, and after being together for over a year, one miscalculation has ruined everything…until Parker comes up with a plan that’ll have Faith flying back into their arms, and their bed.

And here's the sneak peek...

A strong gust of wind buffeted the aircraft, dropping it a hundred feet. Faith tensed, dragging her thoughts back into the cabin. She looked at the horizon, cursing the band of clouds building ahead of her. Pockets of visible rain loomed over the flatlands periodically illuminated by flashes of bright lightning. She glanced at the map, gauging the distance to the small drilling station. It’d be tight, but she might be able to get back in the air before the storm reached the clearing.

Faith pulled more pitch and pushed the nose forward, gaining speed. It would only buy her a few minutes, but that might be all she’d need. The helicopter shimmied in the gusting wind, making her grateful she’d missed dinner. As strong as her stomach was, the constant turbulence grated on her nerves.

She cursed and lowered the machine, skimming across the treetops. An opening in the landscape blossomed into view, marking the cabin’s location. She lowered the power, broadcasting her intentions out across the radio as she readied the chopper for landing. Large drops of rain splattered on the bubble, distorting her view as she bled off the remaining airspeed and settled the machine across the small log pad. A flash of light flickered across the sky, followed by a low rumble.

“Bloody hell.”

She shut the machine down, not willing to chance the gusting winds. The men hadn’t so much as glanced out of the cabin windows, adding to her growing tension. If they didn’t get airborne before the edge of the storm passed over, they’d all be stuck for the night.

Faith jumped out of the helicopter, secured one of the blades as it slowed to a stop and grabbed the rifle out of the baggage compartment. While it was only sixty feet to the cabin, she never left the machine without it. Grizzlies were unpredictable this time of year, and she wasn’t in the mood for any more delays. She shielded her face against the onslaught of wind and rain, and ran for the door. How the guys hadn’t heard the chopper land was a mystery to her, but she’d tan their hides if they weren’t ready. They had five minutes—ten tops—to beat the weather before they were trapped. And as nice as it’d be to spend a night away from the camp, holing up in a drilling rig with two silver-spoon mama’s boys wasn’t her idea of fun.

She yanked open the door and stomped her feet on the rough, burlap mat as she stepped into the cabin, slamming the door shut behind her. “Why the hell aren’t you boys geared up and ready?” she snapped, leaning the rifle against the wall as she rounded the small corner that led into the main area. “I swear. I’ve already had to extend my duty time—if you guys strand me out here all night, I don’t care who your daddy is, I’ll…”

Her voice faded into a stunned silence as she stopped dead, staring at the dimly lit room. Dozens of candles wavered in the growing darkness, their tiny flames creating pockets of warm light, bathing the room with a cosy glow that made the shadows on the walls flicker and dance. A large blanket had been wrapped around the rig, hiding the dull metal and keeping the draughty air from swirling about the room. A small table and three chairs had been squeezed into one corner, while an oversized bed dominated the other. Pillows spilled across the duvet adding depth to the already thick mattress.

A flash of movement caught her eye and she turned as a shadowy figure stepped out from behind the rig, his brown hair flecked with red from the muted light. The tight feeling in her chest increased, and she blinked, not sure how she stayed on her feet as a wide smile broke across his face.

“Hello, Faith.”

Well, I hope you enjoyed the glimpse into the upcoming Threefold Anthology. It's my first time in an anthology, and I couldn't be more thrilled, or with more talented authors. I hope you give it a look, coming September 6th...I think it just might be the new definition of Labour Day!

27.7.10

Two years ago this month I signed my first contract for my first book. At which point I'm pretty sure a tornado must have picked me up, because my feet haven't touched the floor yet!

Yesterday my 30th e-title was released! Here's a bit about it.

Gay Best Friend is an M/M, BDSM short. It’s the tenth book in the G-A-Y Lust Bite Series, but since it’s only connected to the other titles by theme, it can also be read as a standalone.

Here’s the blurb:

And here’s a quick excerpt:

“So what do you do, wash each other’s hair, paint each other’s nails and stuff?”

Carlton Griffiths considered the question very carefully from all possible angles. It still didn’t make the damnedest bit of sense. He glanced briefly across the table at his new co-worker, just in case that might inspire some blinding flash of understanding. It didn’t. Carlton turned his attention back to the match playing on the big screen behind the other man’s shoulder. “What are you on about now?”

“Owens—he’s your ‘gay best friend’, isn’t he? Isn’t that the kind of thing you do together?” Gary chipped in, from his right.

“Bryce?” Carlton frowned as he tossed back the dregs of his pint. “He’s fine. Just leave him be.”

“Sticking up for your boyfriend?”

Carlton leaned to the side in a vain attempt to see the screen past Matthew’s head. He’d never realised the man had such an annoyingly huge skull.

“Well, if you’re not giving each other pretty little make-overs, what are you getting up to with each other?” Simon piped up from the seat next to Matthew.

Carlton put his glass back on the table and tore his eyes away from the screen. He looked at each of his new colleagues in turn. In hindsight, the fact that they’d all seemed far more interested in him than the screen ever since Bryce went up to the bar, should have probably given him a clue much sooner.

Part of him had already been aware that none of them had been thrilled when they found out Bryce was gay. Apparently, none of them had grown a brain since then.

“Fine,” he finally said, with a dramatic little sigh. “You’ve uncovered the truth at last—we’re actually madly in love with each other. Every time we can snatch a moment alone, we’re having wild sex in tons of interesting and varied positions. Now, for the love of all things gay, straight and undecided, will you please shut up so I can watch the damn match!”

Matthew spluttered as he tried to swallow and hyperventilate at the same time. “You what!”

Another look around the table confirmed that they were all staring at him with the same horrified expression.

“It’s called being comfortable with your sexuality,” he informed them.

While they continued to gawp at him, those same expressions still frozen onto their faces, Carlton did his best to ignore them all. It wasn’t easy when Matthew was still sitting between him and the screen. The players kept kicking the ball into one side of his head. Most times it passed through and appeared on the other side as if there was nothing between his ears to stop it, but when it was intercepted somewhere behind his skull Carlton lost any real chance of following play.

“Sounds gay to me,” Gary muttered, somewhere off to Carlton’s right.

The ref blew the whistle for half time. Carlton slumped back in his seat. “Should have gone back to Bryce’s place to watch the game like he said…” Bryce was going to be so bloody smug when he got back to the table with the next round and realised he barely knew the damn score.

“So you could be…comfortable with your sexuality together?” Simon asked.

Carlton rolled his eyes heavenward. This was why it was important to stay at least one drink ahead of the guys he worked with. They were bloody annoying when they were drunker than him. He looked forlornly at his empty pint glass.

“You need to pick a team,” Gary announced, as if he’d just come to that conclusion, as if it wasn’t bloody obvious that Carlton knew which team he was on already.

“I’m straight. Bryce’s gay. We’ve be friends since before either of us were old enough to know what either word means.”

He was straight. Bryce was gay. Carlton repeated the same thought over inside his head, just for good measure. Those were the facts of the matter, and that was the way they were going to stay, even if he did sometimes find himself wondering what would happen if—

26.7.10

I had all these cool ideas of what that meant. Endless pots of coffee, maybe smoking and pacing. It certainly meant living in the Florida Keys. It meant being rich, successful, agonizingly creative. I’d probably be reclusive unless I had to meet my amazing fans at book signings. I’d certainly dress artisticly, maybe even wear tons of jewelry. I considered I might need to also have mood swings in order to be considered “great.”

For the record, I don’t live anywhere near the ocean, let alone the Keys. I wrote ten books in ten years before finally selling my first one. (Talk about the starving artist cliché. Only it isn’t a cliché!) Then, I had this picture that the publisher would want me to open the box under my bed that had all my rejected manuscripts! I’d be an overnight success. Imagine, all those books and my adoring fans! Palm trees and margaritas, look out!

Okay, so all those books were rejected a second time. (It wasn’t painful enough the first time!)

The thrill of signing with a New York agent and that first contract was amazing. The pain of subsequent rejection and iffy cover art brought me back down to earth. Factor in an unfavorable review of my debut novel from a national magazine and I was devastated.

In the amount of time I’ve been a professional writer, I’ve heard a lot of writers (okay, including myself), wondering why we continue to put in the time and the effort, especially when we get knocked off balance by a story that just won’t come together, characters who won’t behave, rejections, or an editorial request for more revisions. Even worse, a book we believe in might see mediocre sales or punishingly bad reviews.

I once heard a multi-published, New York Times bestselling author say, if you can quit, do. Another author who is also now a Times extended list bestseller has packed up her office several times over the years, given away her trusted copy of the Chicago Manual of Style, sold her computer equipment, quit, quit, quit the business.

I’ve had friends walk away for years after painful critiques, after being unable to deliver manuscripts their editors were satisfied with. Some authors I know refuse to accept multi-book contracts because of fear, of jinxing the next book, of not being able to go to the creativity well and pull out yet one more compelling storyline, for fear that next book might not be good enough.

Some writers wonder why they bother at all.

After all, it’s easier to smile through an eight hour shift and say, “Would you like fries with that?” I waited tabled for five years while I was getting my writing legs on solid ground. Waitressing was difficult, with screaming children and masses of crackers smashed into the carpeting beneath a high chair. But at times, it was easier than being a writer. At least, with a day job, I didn’t stay up all night tossing and turning as an idea remained elusive. I didn’t take a walk on the beach and hear voices in my head. I could turn off a waitressing job. I cannot turn off writing.

So, why do we do it?

Maybe because no one else on planet earth has that story to tell. No one else comes up with those characters, those conflicts, that plot line.We have almost all experienced someone developing a similar plot line or an identical title. But no one puts together the same characters, same conflict, same plot at the same time in the same way.

We have stories to tell that no one else can.

I remember being in a hospital waiting room with a book. The book took me away from the pain of waiting, of not knowing. It made the hours somewhat more bearable. And more than anything, maybe that’s why some of us continue to do it, despite the lack of benefits, uncertain income, long hours, potentially bad reviews.Our stories can take people away. We can make them laugh, make them cry, make them care, even if only for a little while. Each story will continue to be unique because we are.

24.7.10

Last week, I was chilling by the pool at Sunriver resort in the perfect weather of Central Oregon. This week, I'm roasting (or is it braising? because it's really moist) in the predictable swelter of the Midwest. Either place, summer is the perfect time for a bit of scenery and sexy reading.

Forced by her employer to take a three month sabbatical, workaholic Tori Warren makes a checklist of things to accomplish which will make the time off worthwhile.

Get into the best shape of her life. Have the most fun of her life. Oh, and have the best sex of her life.

Sexy young Adam comes into her life at just the right time. A physical trainer with a loving-life personality, he should work nicely in helping her meet all three goals. He’d be especially perfect for the best sex. Now if he would only just cooperate...

EXCERPT:

“Ohhh.”

Tori couldn’t stifle a moan as the almost-pain of exerting muscles that seldom got use kicked in. It’d been a long time. Too long.

Panting slightly, she enjoyed the stretch as perspiration beaded across her glowing skin. She strained towards the pleasure she felt hovering just beyond reach.

Almost there. Almost there...

C’mon, endorphins.

Oh no. Sidestitch.

And a cramp.

Shit.

Tori limped to an abrupt halt, pressing her hands to the sharp ache in her lower abdomen while scoping out a non-bird-poopy spot on the curb to collapse on. Using one hand to frantically massage her spasming calf, Tori just had to use some of her very limited breath to laugh out loud at her dilemma.

“I was going to offer you some help, but it sounds like you’re doing okay now.”

The deep voice must belong to the running shoes in front of her, but for the life of her, Tori couldn’t look up just then.

“Oh, no. Not okay. But I had a feeling this would happen. It was going too well, know what I mean? First time I’ve run in years.”

A warm, sympathetic chuckle. “Well, you were looking good, right up until you seized up.”

“I’ll bet that was pretty comical to watch. Ah, ah!” The cramp in her leg spiked painfully in spite of her efforts. Why the hell had she thought she could start exercising again?

“Here, you have to flex it. No, don’t point!” Strong hands forced her foot back towards her body as her rescuer knelt before her like Cinderella’s prince. “Deep breaths, really deep. Fill your belly. That’ll help your stitch.”

“How’d you know I had a stitch in my side?” Tori panted, curled up in as close to a ball as she could get with one leg stuck out in front of her.

“I could tell by the way you suddenly grabbed your stomach like you’d been shot. Now don’t pant, breathe deep.” The steady voice was soothing, but demanded compliance.

Abandoning the short blows vaguely reminiscent of those she’d seen in movie birthing rooms, Tori obeyed, inhaling until she felt dizzy then letting the air whoosh out. Those hands had displaced hers on her calf, and she felt a moment of panic trying to remember whether she’d shaved her legs that morning. She winced at the thought of stubbly legs then realised that her sidestitch was almost gone and the cramp was easing.

“Does that hurt?”

“No, feels good.” A little too good. The man had great hands, and Tori was starting to get some ideas about other kinds of exertion he could help her with.

“You winced.”

Great hands and observant. Tori started to uncurl herself bit by bit, ready to coil back up at the first sign of pain.

“That’s it, hon. Here, stretch your other leg out for me.” He slid his hand along the back of her uninjured leg, encouraging her to ease it out straight, making her think again about the shaving bit. Yes, she must be freshly shaved, else she wouldn’t have worn shorts. She knew herself that well at least.

Once in a regular sitting position, she finally got a look at her Good Samaritan, and almost felt herself seize up again.

Guh.

Tori was in the presence of perfection. It was as if all the women in the world got together and held a summit to design the most gorgeous man possible, then gave him great hands and sent him out to rescue damsels in distress...

23.7.10

I don't know about the weather where you are, but where I am, it's hot and sticky. Perfect for some hot and sticky m/m reading!

Coming August 2, Alex's Appeal by Jude Mason and Jenna Byrnes. This is book 3 in the Kindred Spirits series, but don't worry, each title stands alone. If you haven't read the others (why not?) you can still pick this one up and follow the story completely. Series lovers will enjoy seeing characters from previous books in later ones.

Here are the blurb and an adult excerpt from Alex's Appeal-- enjoy!

Blurb: A bear of a lawyer in mourning, a handsome young chef who falls head over heels, and a mystery that threatens their happiness are just the beginning of the events at Whisker’s Seaside Inn.

Lawyer Alex Brookfield arrives at Whiskers’ Seaside Inn with a big decision weighing heavily on him. He’s been offered a judgeship, and while it’s an incredible promotion, it would mean leaving the house he shared with his late, long-time partner. Russ died of cancer eight months ago, and although Alex is ready to move on, he isn’t sure about such a big, permanent step.

Logan Emerson is the inn’s chef, and wouldn’t mind cooking up something special with the handsome attorney. He’s not concerned about their fourteen year age difference. He just knows what he likes and isn’t afraid to go after the hunky bear of a man.

Alex heard stories about the inn’s ghosts from its owner, his friend and former lover Ethan Roberts. But he’s totally unprepared for the spirit who shows up his first night there.

Between futile attempts to fend off the frisky young cook, and his offer to help inn co-owner Cade Wyatt come up with a romantic marriage proposal for Ethan, Alex finds his hands, and his bed, quite full.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of M/M intimacy and may be read as a standalone story.

Excerpt:

“How about a club sandwich? Ham, turkey and some fresh bacon.” Logan turned around, his arms full of foodstuffs.

Alex’s gaze automatically dropped to the man’s crotch. There wasn’t an erection, but a very nicely shaped bulge outlined in the thin material. He gulped, feeling his own cock thicken and lengthen.

“What do you think? A club sandwich okay?” Logan prodded.

Focus. “Oh, yeah. Sure.”

The cook set the food on the counter and went back for more. “You like the works, tomato, lettuce, mayo?”

Alex shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably. When he’d entered the kitchen, he had nothing but food on his mind. Logan’s playful teasing had surprised him. Now it was all he could think about.

“Hey, Counsellor, are you with me?”

“What?” Alex shook his head, chasing away seductive images of the sexy stud bent over, grabbing for his ankles. He blinked and stared at the vegetables in Logan’s hands. “Yeah, sure, whatever you think.”

With a soft chuckle, Logan set to work preparing the sandwich. When the timer went off, he removed the cookies from the oven and set them aside to cool.

More bending and stretching. Alex’s eyes were glued to the handsome, lithe man, and all thoughts of distracting himself fled. Might as well humour my libido with a little fantasy.

He moved behind Logan and placed a hand at either side of him on the counter. “You mentioned a little something kinky?”

Logan pressed his back against Alex and exhaled a warm sigh. “Oh, yeah. I was hoping you’d see things my way.”

One of Alex’s fingers traced the edge of the mixing bowl, gathering some of the sticky dough. He circled Logan’s ear, dragging the finger across the lobe and kept right on going over his neck. Alex’s mouth followed, licking and sucking the sugary substance from Logan’s slightly salty skin.

“Mmm,” he murmured, his tongue darting inside the ear and over the lobe. “Tastes good.”

“God, yes.” Logan shuddered as Alex continued his ministrations. “I’d love to paint your cock with the stuff and lick you clean.”

Chuckling, Alex shoved his groin against Logan’s ass. “You’re assuming I have that much patience. I had something different in mind for my cock, like burying it in your sweet, tight ass.”

Logan nodded and groaned at the same time. “Yes, yes. I’m all for that idea, too. There’s oil on the shelf behind you. Not exactly the right stuff, but I’ve found it works in a pinch.”

“Oh, you have?” Alex pressed Logan’s body against the counter, his mouth still savouring every bit of sweetness from the man’s tasty neck. “Do you let many people fuck you in your kitchen after hours?”

“No,” Logan answered quickly. “But I want you to. I’ve wanted it since the minute I laid eyes on you. You’re exactly the kind of man I’ve always dreamed about.”

“You’re the man of my dreams, too, sweet cheeks. Now bend over, and let me get a look at you.”

Logan obliged, clinging to the counter as Alex did the work of lowering his shorts and boxers. Alex dropped to his knees and buried his face between Logan’s ass cheeks.

Warm, firm and tight, exactly what Alex expected. He inhaled the man’s arousing, masculine fragrance before prying the cheeks apart and tasting the rosebud hole. More delicious than anything from a bowl, Alex dipped his tongue deeper and groaned with pleasure when Logan’s sphincter loosened and allowed him in. He tongued the orifice, until his own throbbing cock became too much to ignore.

21.7.10

Summer's here and so are the men of summer. The weather here has been hot and sunny so my mind has often strayed to who would people my perfect beach. I frequently have dreams about being beside the ocean and I was born in a fishing village in Ireland, so water seems to be of great importance in my thoughts and in my life. Maybe that explains why I love these photos so much. Or maybe I just love photos of sexy men! Hope you enjoy my summer offerings.

Some beautiful men to get us started.

What do you think the trophy is for? I have my own ideas.

This one makes me think of exotic places.

Do you like the look to be subtle?

Or not so subtle?

You decide.

Hope you enjoyed my pics and have a great summer.

Indulge Me, my newest book from Total-e-Bound, is set in the largest gay spa in Toronto. So if you love men, check it out.

18.7.10

A conversation… well it was more of a debate between my big sis and I led to a very interesting discussion on seduction. We are both avid readers with similar taste. The debate came in when we discussed the merits of the different forms of seduction. We went through the slow and sensual, fast and heated, all the way to the have to have you now. Our opinions varied on each. We did both agree on one. At least we agreed once I explained to my big sis what I meant.

I mentioned to my sis about a book I read that had a scene that I thought was a different form of seduction. Once I gave her examples she sat for a while to think on what I said. I challenged her to think about what I said. Once she figured out what I meant the talk was on. It led to us discussing more of that sort of seduction.

The mind seduction.

In my opinion most seductions start in the mind first. It is those little things that engage you. Make you long for that person. For instance, matching wits with someone who you think of an adversary or just for fun. The mind gets involved first and then it is seduced by that person. Or in some instances being attracted to someone for their brain. Intellectuals are yummy. I love me some geeks. I’m a geek myself. The mind seductions in books are there if you look.

Ever since I came to the realization of mind seduction I’ve found them in books. It is heady to have your mind seduced. The mind is a complex part of your body. Engage it and you get another form of seduction.

17.7.10

I've got to be kidding, right? Could there be such a thing as too much sex? Would dirty-minded Lisabet Sarai, renowned for packing every kink and configuration of genders into a single book, really be claiming that some erotic romance these days is overly carnal?

You're darned right I am.

Don't get me wrong. I love sex. I love writing about sex. I think that sexuality is fascinating, complex, fundamental to who we are. My goal as a author is to explore the nature of desire, to understand how the erotic reveals and enlightens us as human beings.

However, as a writer and critical reader, I have come to the conclusion that some erotic romance would be improved by leaving out some of the sex scenes. These days, some authors are convinced (or perhaps have been advised) that because sex sells (and it does), more is always better. I've read books where the protagonists meet on the first page and they're going at it hot and heavy by the third page. Where scenes critical to the plot are interrupted in order to allow the characters to get off. Where complete strangers are pulled into the mix in order to make it possible to label the book as a ménage.

I understand the motivation. For decades, romance readers had the bedroom doors closed in their faces. When authors began leaving those doors open, making explicit what had only been implicit before, readers were like kids in a candy store. Romance that included graphic sex scenes became hugely popular. Authors started to venture beyond the vanilla, penning spicy tales of unconventional pairings, fetishes and dark fantasies, and readers ate it up (so to speak).

I'm not arguing for a return to the era of closed doors. Far from it. Recently I had a guest blog date with a colleague who asked for a PG excerpt from one of my books. It took me hours, literally, to find one! My point is simply that it isn't quantity that counts when it comes to sex in romance. It's quality.

In erotic romance (and in erotica too, despite some people's misconceptions), the sex should matter. It should advance the plot. It should reveal the characters and change their relationships. With every coupling, the characters should grow. If a sex scene doesn't have a narrative function—if it's just there to jack up the heat rating of the book—it really should be cut,or else reworked so that it does contribute to the overall story.

That's my opinion anyway.

Raw Silk has at least one sex scene in each chapter. However, each one plays an important role in building toward the final show-down, in which Kate, the heroine, must choose among her three lovers. The novel is a tale of sexual self-discovery. Every time Kate pushes her limits, she learns something new about herself. If you removed any of the graphic sex from Raw Silk, there'd be a hole in the narrative, a lack of continuity and logic. Raw Silk has a lot of sex, yes. But not, in my humble opinion, too much.

I've had conversations with author friends who write mostly sweet or sensual, rather than explicit, romance. They've confided that these days they feel defensive and inadequate because their work isn't as "hot" as the current fashion dictates. I tell them they should follow their instincts and intuitions, not the latest trends. The books that readers love, the ones they remember long after finishing them, are the books that speak to the heart—not just the genitals. Readers might find the sex exciting, but without a strong story and sympathetic characters, sex is like cotton candy. It melts away as soon as you taste it, leaving nothing behind but a sticky residue.

16.7.10

Summer is here and in some places around the world I am sure people are wilting with the heat, here in good old Blighty however it has done nothing but rain ALLLLLLLLL week. So to cheer us Brit's up and to remind ourselves it really is summer I've got some hot stuff for us all today, including a steamy excerpt and a free, summer read.

First of all I'm going to give you a taste of Travel Delight. Let's start with the blurb:

When Janet met Guy her whole corporate and predictable world crumbled. The exciting young American whisked her away on a summer holiday that she would never forget, an expedition to find her sexual self.

They started in York where they discovered the delights of the Minster and their exhibitionist lusts. In London they visited the Queen and found the secret delights hidden in the Shadows of Hyde Park. And in Paris, the City of Lovers, Janet made the most important decision of her life. Should she stay with Guy and discover more of her adventurous nature or should she return to the career she had worked so hard to build?

The most important decisions in life are always the most difficult to make.

The story is full of hot sex scenes, many of them in public so if exhibitionism gets you going then this is definitely the story for you. Here's a nibble from Guy and Janet's London visit.

She heard him behind her, his feet hitting the pavement, his laugh and his call. She ignored him and sprinted on faster, across at the red light and into the park, the cool shade of the trees a relief to her hot body. The summer heat had been pleasant, but the cool shade let her push on a little harder. She risked a look round. He wasn’t there.

She slowed to a jog, still no sign of him. She could have sworn she’d heard his footsteps behind her only moments before. Where was he? She was just about to reach into her handbag for her mobile phone when a masculine hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into the bushes. She yelped a little but was silenced by familiar lips hitting hers. She wanted to yell at him, to curse and to reprimand him for such childish behaviour, but it seemed that he had some kind of potion on his lips that made her incapable of sane thought and recognisable speech.

“Now you’re going to find out just how perverted I am,” he whispered and pushed her to her knees in the grass. She held in a yelp, not wanting to draw attention to them, knowing that people were walking and jogging past this spot merely yards away. She wasn’t scared, no, she was excited. Her heart thumped from the exercise and the arousal. The smell of crushed grass and the soft give of the earth below her made her tingle. She was outside, surrounded by nature, and she was going to be fucked, she knew it.

He flicked up her skirt and slapped her buttock, gently so as not to make a sound. He repeated the action on the other bare cheek. He had insisted she go knickerless today for his delight and easy access. He dropped to his knees behind her and much to her surprise kissed her bum. His lips slipped up and down her cheeks as his fingers pried apart her buttocks. She felt exposed. A sudden stab of anxiety hit her, and she tried to shuffle away.

“No,” he commanded in a hoarse whisper. “Stay still. I’m going to fuck you, and I’m choosing where to stick my dick.” His foul language made her squirm but not in fear. She had never indulged in anal sex before but as his tongue gently lapped at her tiny hole, she realised she would like to experience it with him. She wanted to experience it all with Guy.

“Not today,” he groaned and licked lower. “I need this pussy. It’s so wet and inviting. He stretched out his tongue and licked up and down her slit. She bit her lip, holding back a whimper as each pass with his tongue came closer and closer to her clit but he stopped before he reached it.

She could hear the gentle wind in the trees behind the rough sound of his zipper. Ducks quacked and splashed in the lake beyond and children’s yells and laughter floated over. The park was filled with people enjoying this hot summer day, and not one of them knew what was going on in this shady area of trees and bushes, but any one of them could stumble upon them and find out.

And as if you're all not hot enough already, now I'm going to tell you all about a free read of mine available for download right now for zero pence, now that's a bargain and a half. It's called Summer Exposure and here's an introduction for you.

Sweet sea air, ice cream and sex, what more could you want?Indulge your inner voyeur with an erotic trip around a seaside town at the height of the summer season as fun in the sun is all the better when it's in public.

Again it's a little tale of voyeuristic pleasure and is set in my most favourite place in all the world, Scarborough.

Scarborough is a seaside town off the North East coast of England and I've been visiting there since I was a child. I really love setting stories there.

I hope you've enjoyed this little bite of summer and I hope you all make the most of the sun while it lasts or, in the case of us water-logged Brits we just simply hope the sun will come out soon!

15.7.10

I am so excited to be in my first anthology and rubbing shoulders with a few of the authors I LOVE and admire. The Threefold Anthology won't be released until September 6, but I just received the cover art so I wanted to share.

Here is the blurb for my m/m/f, contemporary, paranormal, multicultural contribution to the anthology.

Between A and Z

Thirty-year-old sculptor Mia has given up the idea of finding a man to settle down with until one twenty-four hour day has her meeting two very special men and discovering that between A and Z, M belongs right in the middle.

Mia dubbed her life-sized clay sculpture, Adam, because he is the first man she's ever made. Most of her work has been female torsos, but recently her muse insisted it was time for her to produce a man. Thought, she might have been confusing her surging libido with her artistic muse.

Mia has been abstinent for nearly a year, but not because of any plan. Her best friend Shirle has organized a party for Mia to put an end to her long dry spell and give her vibrator a night off. Before she even gets out of Shirle's car, Mia meets Zed.

Zed has come to the part to win a challenge. The waiters at the restaurant where he is the head chef and owner don't think a black French chef can country line dance. Once he meets Mia, his purpose for the night changes. He plans to spend the evening with this incredibly sexy woman whose sense of humor is developed enough to subject herself to the intense teasing from her friends about her lacking sex life. But he must decide whether he still wants Mia when he discovers Adam plays and important role in her life.

If you’re a newsletter subscriber to either Jude’s or Jenna’s newsletters, mention that in your email. Subscribing to one will get you an extra contest entry. Subscribing to both will earn you two extra entries!

The female's scent is highly arousing, even to a cougar closely mated to his male partner. But Kai is no ordinary cougar. He's a changeling, sometimes a highly sexed human, and sometimes an even friskier cat. He mounts the seductive Sable, unaware of her mission and exactly what he's preparing to lose.

The talisman amulet has kept the cougar clan at peace for generations. When it's stolen Kai and his mate, the handsome Aric, set out on a journey to recover it. Meeting treachery and deception at every turn, the duo are forced to battle not only for the peace of the cougar clans, but for their very survival, and the life of their new-found love, Sable. (m/m, m/m/f menage, contemporary erotic romance)

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Nuzzling her long, slender neck, Kai inhaled the scent he’d followed ever since entering the clan cave—the sweet, musky, deeply disturbing and arousing smell of female. He licked the nape of her neck, unable to resist the temptation. His thoughts raced. Who was this gorgeous creature? Why hadn’t he noticed her before? How fast could he get her to his bed of lush furs? The warmth of the talisman on his chest seemed strange, out of place in this rutting, and he pushed the warning aside. Lost in a sea of lust, he wanted her, needed her more than he remembered ever needing a female before, and that too was strange.

“Mm, I like that,” she murmured, thrusting her pelvis more firmly against his thigh.

Kai reached around her, sliding his hands down over the firm swell of her arse. He was hard, painfully so, and ached to get her alone where he could hopefully take advantage of her lusty behaviour and his throbbing cock. Nipping at her neck, he tightened his grip on her arse and lifted her smaller frame off the floor. Staggering a step, he steadied himself and took the half dozen paces to his private chamber. Inside, free from prying eyes, he lowered her onto the soft pile of hides strewn across the dim corner.

“A gorgeous creature like you should be cherished,” he whispered huskily. “I can think of many things you might like. Perhaps you’ll tell me what pleasures you most.” Tearing at his vest, he tossed it aside and quickly unfastened the belt and buttons holding up his pants. It was only when he tried to kick them off that he realised he’d neglected to remove his soft-soled boots, and he dropped to the bed. He worked them off and was naked but for the leather thong around his neck.

She tossed her long dark hair over her shoulders and smiled down at him, a touch of wistfulness in her eyes. “Anything you want to do will be perfect, Kai.”

A tingle of excitement surged through him. Again, the amulet brushed against his chest, the heat of it nudging his thoughts. He ignored it and the gentle warning it gave. He looked up at the female, who seemed to know him and had somehow lured him to his own den. She was tall, he knew, because she more than reached his collar bone, and he was well over six feet. Her luscious curves filled out the pale green singlet to the bursting point. She’d unfastened several buttons at the top, allowing an ample portion of her plump breasts to thrust into the air. Her waist was slim, her hips more than a handful. On her feet, she had on the standard soft-soled boots all of the tribe wore.

He’d never seen such a vision of feminine beauty before. Despite the air of sophistication she seemed so determined to display, he sensed a vulnerability in her that pulled at his heart. Besides lust in her sparkling black eyes, he also saw a hint of apprehension. Fear?

He was the clan leader, the dominant male in a family of twenty or so, as well as the leader of the entire cougar tribe. She wasn’t from his group. He’d never seen her before and he was dead sure he’d have remembered if he had. Kai worked hard at being a kind and fair ruler, not one who inspired fright. The only thing she had to be frightened of, at that moment, was the depth of his passion.

Holding his hand up to her, he whispered, “Come here, my beautiful one. You have nothing to fear from me, ever, I promise.”

Dark eyes flashed at him. She licked her lips and he saw the gleam of her teeth. “You want me now, like this? Or would you prefer me naked?”

“Naked.” He lowered his hand to his cock. Blood pounded in his veins. He watched her reach for the buttons and much too slowly push the tiny beads through their corresponding holes. One, two, three, and he glanced down to see how many more she had to do. Too many. He growled deep in his throat.

“Shh,” she hissed, which dragged his eyes from her belly to her face.

“Damn,” he muttered, and languidly stroked his erection from the tip down to the base. Cupping his balls, he groaned, his need soaring. The soft hair tickled his palm. The shaft of his cock pulsed, slapping the crown against his belly.

He wanted to come. Mind-blowing climaxes provided welcome relief from his daily responsibilities. Leading his clan and tribe was a duty he never took lightly and wouldn’t give up for anything in the world. But, the obligation weighed heavily on him. At times, it was pure joy to relax and put everything out of his mind except giving pleasure to someone else.

He could get lost in the eyes of this female. Nagging questions crept into his mind. Who is she? Where did she come from? Possibly the most urgent, How long is it going to take her to remove that blasted outfit?

Fire rages, not only through the forest to threaten the lives of his clan, but in the hearts of Tarek, the leader as well as Inuka, his firey lover and Raven, the stoic companion who secretly adores him. Can the flames of their love survive?

The amulet around his neck glows with fiery heat. Darkly handsome Tarek would just as soon ignore the warning and resume frolicking with his seductive companion, Inuka. But as the leader of the bear changeling clan, responsibility rests on his shoulders. Suddenly, the warmth of the talisman is overwhelming, and its meaning becomes clear.

Wildfire races through the forest threatening everyone, and everything, in its path. The bears must retreat to their winter caves for safety. The journey is long and time proves short. As flames dance from the treetops, sparks explode and embers shower the fleeing clan.

Not all are as strong and able-bodied as Tarek and his muscular mate Inuka. Seeing the clan members to safety is Tarek's primary concern. When their escape doesn't go as planned, the burden of his obligation may be too much for one man-or one bruin- to bear. (m/m, m/m/f menage, contemporary erotic romance)

Becky from Dark Angel Reviews gives Bear Combustion a Recommended Read and says: "WOW! Bear Combustion, the second book in the Untamed Heart Series, by Jude Mason and Jamie Hill, tops the scales. The opening scene is a scorcher....Turn on the fan and pick up a copy! Buy now!"

Excerpt:

Tarek jerked his arm away. "No! Leave me alone! I don't want to be the responsible one anymore. I don't want everyone to need me." He strode off through the grove of trees. He just wanted to escape and be free of the weight he'd carried for so long.

"Oh, no you don't." Inuka jogged after him. "It's not that easy, Tarek. You just don't get to quit."

"Leave me!" he snarled, fighting the tears that threatened. His demeanour wasn't very leader-like, but he couldn't help his feelings. Suddenly everything seemed too overwhelming.

"So this is how you react to crisis? By feeling sorry for yourself?" Inuka called.
He froze then whirled around. "I don't feel sorry for myself! I'm sorry I fucked everything up so badly! I made a mistake, Inuka. Can't you get that through your thick skull?"

Inuka poked him in the chest. "Which mistake? Bringing us here or fucking me? Raven blames you for both."

"I can't handle this right now." Tarek looked to the sky and roared. "I don't know what to do or how to please everyone."

With both hands, Inuka grasped his forearms. His face was as red as Tarek had ever seen it and his tone was harsh. "No one expects you to please everyone. But you do not get to quit. Pick yourself up, dust off your loincloth and move on. Life goes on, Tarek. Everyone back in that cave is looking to you for proof of that. We're waiting for you to tell us what to do next. Don't let us down now."

"Bastard!" Tarek rumbled.

"You know it!" Inuka growled right back at him, his expression set with determination.

Tarek grabbed him and pressed their lips together. Frustration turned to hunger as Inuka moaned and opened his mouth to Tarek's tongue. His erection sprang to life harder than he ever remembered it being.

Inuka groped at his shoulders and chest then lowered his hands and tugged off Tarek's loincloth. He jerked his own away and pressed their groins together.

Glancing around, Tarek spotted a flat rock formation a few yards beyond the edge of the grove they'd come to. Clasping one hand on Inuka's arse to hold him close, he walked him backwards, kissing and clutching all the way.

When Inuka's back touched the stone, he moaned and nipped at Tarek's tongue. With the firmness only a lover could possess, he cupped Tarek's cock and balls, stroking him until Tarek gritted his teeth with pleasure.

Brushing his thumb over the head of Inuka's rock-hard shaft, Tarek gathered a drop of pre-cum and smoothed it across the head of his own crown. Covering Inuka's hand with his, he forced a thrusting motion to encourage his cock to provide more lubrication.

A sticky ribbon was his reward. Tarek raised one of Inuka's legs and held it up by the knee. Staring into his lover's eyes, the lust he saw there took his breath and made his hand shake as he nudged the head of his cock to the dark, puckered anus. Tarek already knew this man well. The hole ached to be filled as badly as he desired to fill it.

"Yes!" Inuka groaned.

Excitement flowed through Tarek and he forced himself to proceed slowly. Inuka hadn't been stretched properly, but if he could show restraint there'd be no problem. Maintaining eye contact, he pressed his cock forward then eased it back. Several more thrusts and Inuka's outer ring gave way, accepting his cock fully.

His thrusts increased in speed and passion. Inuka's stream of mutterings caused Tarek's balls to draw up, an intense orgasm threatening. His Dark Warrior had quickly learned how much he loved to hear him talk during sex. Tarek finally broke eye contact so he could press his head into Inuka's shoulder and let the man murmur into his ear.

"Fuck me, Tarek. Damn, I love this. I love you."

Looking down, Tarek watched his cock slide in and out of the tight channel. He pressed up on Inuka's raised leg and groaned, release imminent.

"Come on, my love. Give it to me. I crave it," Inuka gasped.

With the lustful words racing around in his mind, Tarek lost the last vestige of control, his climax overtaking him. Shuddering, he fought to remain upright. Glorious sensations washed through his body as he pumped himself into Inuka. When he could move, he pulled back enough to palm the leaking cock stabbing his belly. Stroking up and down firmly, it took just moments for his mate to erupt, spraying them both with streams of warm cum.

Inuka panted, fighting for air.

Tarek lowered the raised leg carefully, reluctantly easing his cock from the clutching hole where he envisioned spending a lifetime. He backed off so Inuka could breathe. "Fuck," he muttered.

"My thoughts exactly."

He turned his back to the rocks and leaned against them, Inuka at his side. Something caught his attention, and from the corner of his eye he spotted Raven watching them from the safety of the underbrush. The man appeared freshly bathed and was naked, his cock standing firm. He stroked himself and for a moment his eyes met Tarek's.

Fire takes the life of the wolfen tribal leader, and a new leader must be found before catastrophe befalls the pack. Only Cole, young irresponsible and unattached, has felt the talisman's heat. Is he the chosen one?

Fire devastates the forest, taking the life of the wolf tribe leader and his mate. With the amulet holder dead, a new leader must be chosen. Cole is young, headstrong and enamoured of his carefree ways. He discovered the bodies, and he's the changeling who brings the amulet back to his pack.

Zane has been a convenient sex partner for Cole, who continues to resist the ties of commitment. When the men come across another pack decimated by the fire, including a beautiful female unlike any they've seen before, Cole discovers that there may be more to life than playing the field.

With dissension among the pack and an unwilling Cole who might very well be the chosen amulet holder, will the wolfen tribe find its new leader? Or will confusion, mistrust and greed destroy them all?

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Cole sat with his back to the cliff face, naked as the day he was born. The rough stone scratched his back, the rubble under him dug into his bum. He focused on a distant point where flames had licked at the treetops, leaving nothing but blackened fingers reaching into the sky.

The fire had recently passed over the valley, leaving the territory of the wolf tribe a mixture of ashes and partially burnt foliage. If Gar hadn’t been away from home, if the wind had turned the other way, Cole was sure life would have gone on as usual. Many of the small family clans had fought the flames, while some of them fled. But without Gar, the pall of death now loomed over the entire tribe.

His immediate thoughts were of his find, and the meaning behind it. The talisman. The brilliant red stone in the shape of a wolf’s head, set in the centre of the gold filigree, rested in his palm. He wanted to throw it as far as his strength would allow. Instead, he tossed it into the air and snatched it back then lifted it so the sun shone through the gem, sending brilliant shards of colour across the dull, burned soil.

“What’s the matter?” Zane, his friend and companion, leaned down, and reaching out tried to snatch the stone from his grasp.

Cole pulled the amulet close, unwilling to allow it to leave his hand. Cursing under his breath, he wondered why. He’d have given anything if he’d never found the damn thing—never found their tribal leader, Gar, and his mate’s scorched corpses. Charred flesh and bone were all that remained and the smell was something he’d never forget, he was sure of it.

The shock and grief were still hard to bear. The ramifications of what this meant to their tribe, enormous. Cole sighed. No one would ever be able to replace Gar. Yet someone would have to try.

Shaking off his black mood , he dropped the amulet onto the pile of clothing he’d shed and grabbed hold of Zane’s wrist. Pulling the pale-skinned, white haired man around, he draped him across his knees. “Nothing besides the obvious. Oh, and I’m horny.” It seemed inappropriate, but Cole needed something to distract him from the horrible events that had taken place.

Zane’s response was predictable, as was his own comment. “Yeah, so what else is new? Ever since I met you, your cock’s been at no less than half-mast.”

“Nothing wrong with that, or so you’ve been telling me for the past couple of weeks. No one else complains about me being hard all the time.”

Zane wriggled, dragging his thighs and genitals over Cole’s erection. “Like I’m complaining!” He squirmed a little more, and chuckled when Cole groaned.

“Fuck, you know how to get to me.” He slid his hand over Zane’s lower back and then his arse. The man’s squirming took on a more determined thrust, driving his shaft hard into Cole’s thigh.

“I understand how you’re feeling. This whole situation is overwhelming, and you’d rather not think about it for a while longer. But you’re the one who’s driving us both crazy!” Zane drove his hips forward again. “Either spank me or fuck me, please!”

Grinning, Cole continued his teasing caress, sliding his palm over the firm cheeks of the man’s arse and down his thighs. He nudged them apart and slipped a hand between those sturdy columns of muscle and bone, cupping the warm, round sac. “Spank you? Have you misbehaved? Do you need a spanking?” Cole was intrigued. He’d never spanked anyone before.

“For fuck’s sake, just do me, would you?” Zane snarled, his temper obviously getting the best of him.

Cole loved trying new things and wasn’t about to let him off so easily. He rested his free arm across the man’s back, holding him in place, while continuing to toy with the hefty ball sac and the crack of his arse.

Zane’s writhing grew more desperate when Cole pushed a finger against the tight rosebud nestled between his cheeks. He groaned when the finger popped inside.

“So, fucking or spanking?” Cole twisted his finger around the tight passage. His own cock shifted, pulsing under the weight of his new lover.

“And you said I was always horny. What about you and this monster you have dangling between your legs?” Popping his finger free, Cole pushed his hand between them and grabbed Zane’s impressive hard-on.

“Yes,” the man hissed and pumped his hips.

“Yes, you want to fuck, or yes, you want a spanking?” Cole asked, insistent. “Make a choice or you get neither.”

“Fuck then, fuck me,” Zane replied quickly. He raised his arse, perhaps hoping Cole would relent and slip a finger back into his tight hole.

A recently discovered horse talisman and a gypsy horse changeling tribe seem like the perfect match. Is headstrong Brishen ready for the power the talisman brings?

It's a stressful time for the familya of gypsy horse changelings. Shandor, King of the Gypsies, has died, leaving the clans at war and his son, Brishen, struggling with his new-found leadership. Brishen also struggles with something more personal - choosing a life mate. Will it be Tawnie, the female his father selected for him? Or handsome Jal, whose masculine features excite Brishen more than anything has before?

In cougar territory, a day's journey away, clan leader Kai and his mate Aric are dealing with an issue of their own. A new talisman discovered - a brilliant purple stone with the head of a horse in gold filigree. Unaware of any horse changelings, Kai calls a meeting of the talisman holders to discuss what should be done.

Tarek, leader of the bears, and Cole, ruler of the wolves, come together with Kai to track down their new changeling brothers. When they find the horses and meet young, headstrong Brishen, it's a battle of wills - a battle no one wants to lose.

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Brishen’s thoughts raced. The cool evening air had his flesh crawling with goose bumps, his nipples erect. Tawnie, her supple body tanned and eager, pressed against him. Yet, the moonlight and her presence couldn’t distract him from where his mind continued to wander. His father, Shandor, lay abed, ill for some months with age and a hacking cough that wouldn’t let him rest. Pesha, his mother, tended the old man, easing his discomfort, but there was little else she could do. Shandor’s life had been long and filled with troubles, as had the lives of all of their vitsa, or clan. Years of mistrust and battle with other vitsas had taken its toll on them all. Mares lost foals too often, and many of the young stallions fought amongst themselves, even within familya groups.

“Brishen, don’t be so stubborn,” Tawnie murmured, her arms reaching around his neck, her body pressing ever closer to his. Her lips, ripe and succulent looking, pursed for a kiss as she rose onto her toes and leaned in.

Brishen straightened, peering over the top of the lovely woman’s head. The tree lined valley with the meandering river running through its centre was ideal for the families. The field of rich grasses and clover fed their equine form. There were pockets of shrubbery where berry and wild apple trees grew in abundance. Some homesteader must have abandoned the area years ago, he thought, trying to push the vision of his wasted father from his mind.

“Hey.” Tawnie grabbed his ears and dragged his face down so she could see into his eyes. “I’m still here, remember me?” Her voice was soft, but her deep brown eyes shone with a brightness that surprised him.

“Yes, I know you are, and I could never forget you.” He smiled, a little weakly he knew, but he hoped it

reassured her. After all, she was the woman chosen for him by his father. He reached around her, resting his hands on her wide, muscular hips. A granite boulder behind him was at just the right height for him to perch his arse on. He drew her with him as he shifted, the thread-bare jeans not doing anything to cushion his bottom.

The woman smiled, her wide eyes appearing even brighter in the moonlight. “Yeah, I know, you’ve got a lot on your mind right now. I just thought I might be able to distract you for a while.” She swivelled her hips, grinding herself against his slowly rising cock.

Remember, to have a chance to win either of these series or one Jenna and I have with another publisher, you've got to answer the questions at the top of this post and send your answers in toJude_Mason@my-haven2001.com: For even more chances to win, join our newsletters.